Individuals All

 

The sunlight came slanting through the trees to strike the leaves on a small shrubby plant.  From a distance, it almost looked as if someone had flicked on the switch to power a string of tiny lights that had been invisible until that moment.  The lights were on just long enough to draw attention to the bush before the sun hid itself behind some passing clouds.

A new world reveals itself as the lens of our observation gets closer.  We begin to realize that the sparkle that drew our attention was the refraction and the reflection of the sunlight as it interacts with water.  But, the sun does not make an immediate appearance so we are left to observe the tiny droplets on the fine leaves.  As we do, we start to see fine differences between each one.

One droplet has become oblong and is showing how gravity is pulling it away from its home leaf.  Another is a simple half-globe, with plenty of potential to grow larger if the smaller droplets on top of the leaf decide to slide down and join their friends in a group effort.  Some of the droplets hang from leaves, flowers or stems while others sit on top, preferring to look up rather than down.  There is even some diversity in size and shape on a individual leaves.  Proximity didn't seem to dictate perfect uniformity.

Still, each droplet has much in common with the others, clearly related - with some basic understandings about how life is.  Yet, each also appears to be unique in some way.  Individuals all. And with that individuality, each of them provide a window to a world and community that is beautiful.